by Josie Dennis
Lords of Hawksfell Manor 10
Daniel’s Duty
Duty drives Daniel Hawk’s life. Duty to his estate. Duty to his mother. Duty to his ward, Daisy. He fights his Hawk beast, easing his lusts with encounters that leave him empty. Daisy loves him but she is certain he only sees her as a responsibility. When he and Daisy visit Hawksfell Manor, they both become close to first footman Vincent.
Vincent was hurt before. His former employer and lover put gambling and a good time before him, and was shot over gambling debts. He tries to keep his heart safe but falls hard for both Daniel and Daisy.
The three of them share passion, growing closer as their liaison plays out. Daisy and Vincent know Daniel holds himself back from all they can have together. It hurts Daniel when he thinks of eventually losing them, but he doesn’t believe he deserves forever.
Can Daniel accept their love and the chance at true happiness? Or will responsibility drag him down?
Genre: Historical, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 23,917 words
DANIEL’S DUTY
Lords of Hawksfell Manor 10
Josie Dennis
MENAGE AMOUR
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Amour
DANIEL’S DUTY
Copyright © 2015 by Josie Dennis
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63259-796-0
First E-book Publication: October 2015
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2015 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
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Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About the Author
DANIEL’S DUTY
Lords of Hawksfell Manor 10
JOSIE DENNIS
Copyright © 2015
Chapter 1
Yorkshire England, 1913
Daniel Hawk, Viscount Winthrop, tidied the papers on his desk and blew out a breath. His accounts were growing. That was as expected, since Hawks were blessed in matters of money. Winthrop Hall carried on as it had for years. That was also as expected. The care of the estate fell on Daniel, as inherited from his mother’s father. Her care, however? That was thrust upon him when his Hawk father sired him and left his mother alone and heartbroken.
His unknown father, one of so many Hawks that populated their part of York over the generations, had come back to legitimatize Daniel in name, if nothing else. He’d heard from those in the village and the servants at the hall that faithfulness was not in a Hawk’s makeup. Daniel was certain it had to do with the curse that plagued all of them. Perhaps a Hawk jilted a witch a few centuries ago. He had no idea, but it was woven into the lore of Yorkshire that Hawks were beasts who served only their own dark needs. Daniel preferred to think that he wasn’t so burdened, but he knew in his heart that he was.
Hawks might be blessed financially, but sexually, they were blighted. Hawk men had a lust that rose without warning and demanded release. That ease could not be found with one’s own hand, however. He’d tried that when first reaching manhood. A pounding erection that lasted for hours and stabbing pains in his belly assured him that was no way to satisfy the beast. No. He knew now that he had no choice but to find someone to fuck or to suck him to release.
Winthrop Hall was staffed with willing and well-paid servants to do the deed and keep their tales to themselves in exchange for generous recompense. They were also his responsibility, these people who served him when the beast rose. He did his damnedest to keep those occurrences to the minimum. Cold baths. Clean thoughts. Keeping to himself most of the time. Inexplicably, the beast would once more stir and demand satisfaction. If he felt guilty afterward, that was also his responsibility, and his cross to bear.
He’d taken on yet another duty ten years earlier. His mother’s favorite cousin had died in a boating accident, both the man and his wife as well. They’d left behind a child. A daughter, actually. Daisy was now Daniel’s ward, though she was only seven years younger than his own twenty-eight. A bright little sprite of a thing when she was a child, she was now a beguiling, enticing young woman who could drive him mad just by being in the same room with him.
Just last evening, after dinner was concluded, she’d begged him to play a game of cards. He should have said no. He should have sent her to her rooms and drunk himself into a stupor. Instead, he’d bade his mother good night and played with the minx. Her wildflower scent had wrapped itself around him in the overly-warm parlor.
He’d watched her every move. Her every breath. She bit her lower lip when she was thinking, and he’d bitten his own in response. He’d ultimately had to cut their games short and retire to his room. One quick pull of the bell cord and a willing house maid was before him. He’d been so full and
pounding, it hadn’t taken much to bring him to orgasm. He couldn’t help thinking of Daisy as the maid worked him.
He’d imagined it was Daisy on her knees before him. Daisy’s full, red lips on his cock. Her small tongue lapping the head as she drew him closer. Her delicate hands that gripped his buttocks as she took him deep in her mouth. Lord, he’d exploded with a growl and just barely kept from screaming Daisy’s name.
He was a bastard, if not in name, then in temperament. True, his staff was well paid and well treated. They were his responsibility, too, along with his tenants. He didn’t even have the escape of riding the estate today, though, not with the hard spring rain that continued to pound on the leaded windows since he’d risen this morning. Although he was well and truly stuck inside with only his mother and Daisy for company, it didn’t make much difference. It seemed most days, and the lonely nights sure to follow, he was destined to be alone with none, save his duty, to keep him.
As a Hawk, that was truly all he was due.
* * * *
Daisy Jensen paced the floor of her very pretty bedchamber. She’d been so twisted up last evening she hadn’t been able to find sleep, not after the far-too-short time she’d spent in Daniel’s company.
“Darn, fool man!” She stomped her foot. “How can he be so dense?”
Her breath whooshed out of her as she sank down in the upholstered chair beside her merrily-crackling fireplace. Her skin felt far too tight and her heart seemed to pound. She’d managed to convince her stalwart guardian to play cards with her in the parlor, but before she could do more than begin to pierce his frosty indifference, he’d declared the games over!
She placed her hand on her throat and attempted to catch her breath. Her pulse raced beneath her fingertips. It was time to face some hard truths in her life, a life that felt like it was barely started, and now she was to end miserable and alone. Oh, how maudlin.
She’d been half in love with Daniel for years now, but he seemed to only think of her as a duty, and a distasteful one at that, given the polite yet distant manner with which he usually treated her. Why, he left the room the moment she walked into it most days, and last evening he’d kept himself as far from her as the small table between them would allow. That hadn’t kept her from breathing in the hot, spicy smell of him. Mmm. Her aunt had left them to their own devices and taken herself to bed, leaving Daisy to finally be alone with Daniel for longer than mere moments.
He was so handsome. So strong and tall and broad. Sun-streaked hair that was always just a bit unruly and those compelling, dark Hawk eyes. She knew all the Hawks were rumored to be handsome devils. She knew about the Hawk curse, as well. That was, as much as she’d been able to glean from overhearing talk among the servants. How his lusts ran high at odd moments. How he had to ease himself with whatever maid was available. She shivered as she pictured Daniel’s fit body pressed tightly against a willing maid’s. She’d heard them describe him in his needs. Relentless. Focused. Powerful. She shivered again.
Last night, he’d been hers alone. For the length of the evening. For the length of their game of cards, at least. She’d watched him so closely—studied his every movement. His strong hands holding the cards as his gorgeous eyes scanned them. She was certain even now that he’d feigned interest in the game for her benefit. He seemed to always act in a way to her benefit. Then why couldn’t he see that she wanted more of him than a mere nugget of his time?
Glancing out at the wet and gray morning, she felt her spirits dip lower. She would be stuck in the house all day with nothing but books from the library and tea in the parlor with Lady Winthrop. She was a kind and lovely lady, if a little bit distracted. Daisy supposed that explained how the woman’s son could carry on his nocturnal activities without his mother being any the wiser. Sighing, she rang for the maid and readied for her day.
When she entered the breakfast room, she wasn’t surprised to see Lady Winthrop seated there. The woman looked up, her elegantly beautiful face brightening as she saw Daisy.
“Daisy, dear! Good morning!” The lady gave her a smile. “My, you look very lovely today.”
“Thank you, Lady Winthrop.”
Daisy sat and glanced around as her tea cup was filled. Breakfast was served, and after eating a bit of eggs and ham, Daisy took up her cup.
“I take it Lord Winthrop is gone already?” she asked Daniel’s mother.
“Gone?” The lady blinked rapidly, her brows drawn together. “Where would Daniel go? He’s not leaving the hall!”
“I am most assuredly not.” Daniel strode into the room, looking fit and broad and capable. “Not for long, that is.”
Lady Winthrop splayed her hand on her chest. “Oh, thank goodness. I don’t know what I would do without you here with me.”
Daisy wasn’t so easily placated, however. She’d caught the wording of Daniel’s quick reply.
“But you are leaving, Daniel?” she asked.
He turned to face her and she was struck anew by the intensity of those Hawk eyes. “I received a missive just this morning, actually. I’ve been invited to Hawksfell Manor.”
Daisy shook her head in confusion, but Daniel’s mother’s mouth dropped open.
“The earl’s home?” Lady Winthrop said. “Oh, never say you’re paying a visit on that man.”
Daisy wondered at the fear and disgust evident in Lady Winthrop’s voice. Did she know the earl?
Daniel cleared his throat and sat down at one end of the table. “By your tone of voice, I’m assuming you cannot be speaking of the new earl.”
“Yes, yes!” His mother let out a loud sigh. “The old earl died a year ago. On the Titanic. But Daniel, what is his heir like?”
Daniel shrugged. “From all accounts, he’s a decent man, Mother. He’s married, you know.”
“Married?” It was Daisy’s turn to stare at Daniel with her mouth agape. “A Hawk?”
Daniel winced at her insinuation. “Yes, Daisy. The earl has invited me to meet his family, and mine, as it turns out.”
“More Hawks, then,” his mother said. Her voice was much calmer now. “I take it you’ve decided to go.”
“Yes. I feel I should.”
“Why?” Daisy asked.
“What?” Daniel returned.
“Why should you go?”
“I have family, Daisy.” His face took on its stern guardian mask. “Family is very important.”
“And I have none,” she said. “I am well aware of that.”
Daniel blew out a breath. “That is not what I meant.”
She placed her napkin deliberately beside her plate. “Nevertheless, I am going with you.”
“You are most assuredly not,” he stated.
“Yes, Daniel,” he mother said. “Do take Daisy. The girl could use a trip and the earl’s part of Yorkshire is supposedly quite lovely in the spring.”
“It’s supposedly quite wet in the spring, Mother.”
“Still, you should take Daisy with you. I cannot be expected to be the sole entertainment for her in your absence. Perhaps she’ll be able to meet some eligible gentlemen there.”
Daniel looked flummoxed by his mother’s request, but Daisy was not. Lady Winthrop seemed to think of her alternately as a young child just out of the school room and a weary spinster with a fear of remaining too long on the shelf. Apparently, today Daisy was that spinster in need of a husband. She hid her smile.
Daniel’s full mouth was set in a line, but Daisy knew he couldn’t bear to argue with his mother. A small flicker of hope came to life in Daisy’s chest. Would he really let her go with him to Hawksfell Manor?
“If Daisy can be ready to leave in the morning, she may accompany me.”
Daisy held in a squeal of delight, managing to merely nod her agreement. His tone told her that he would most likely rather walk all the way to Hawksfell Manor than bring her with him. It was of no consequence, really. She was going with him and that was that!
“I can and will be ready,
Daniel,” she told him.
He shot her a look fraught with conflict, but no matter. She would have him to herself at Hawksfell. Aside from whatever Hawk relatives populated the place, that was. Let him try to keep her at arms’ length. She would make certain that he saw her as more than his ward. As more than his duty.
He would finally see her as woman.
* * * *
Vincent Gilmore strolled into the servants’ hall at Hawksfell Manor, humming to himself. He was a lucky son-of-a-bitch to be in his current position as first footman. The circumstances leading up to his promotion were less than clear, but didn’t matter a whit. It seemed that Lady Hawksfell’s cousin had taken a shining to Hugh, the previous first footman at the manor. He’d left the place to take up service with her and the earl’s newfound half-brother, Stefan Hawk. There were whispers of naughty nightly doings among the three of them, but Vincent wasn’t one to listen to gossip. Besides that, Mrs. Holmes, the long-time and venerable housekeeper of the manor, discouraged the sort of talk that would disparage any of the Hawk men or their chosen women.
Though he would never tell Mrs. Holmes so, Vincent thought that was quite diverting, since the earl and countess obviously shared a strong affection with the countess’s third cousin, Mr. Crowley. But since it was Mr. Crowley’s very own sister who’d left with Vincent’s predecessor, there was truly no talk to be had.
“How does this evening find you, Vincent?” Mr. Carstairs, the manor’s butler, greeted him with a small smile. “All went well abovestairs, I assume?”
